U.S. preeminence in aerospace is threatened by aging demographics and uncertainty over the future of the U.S. space program and adequate funding to support it, AIA President and CEO Marion Blakey said Thursday in testimony before the House Committee on Science and Technology.

“While the Administration and Congress consider the future of NASA, we must ensure our continuing leadership in space exploration by investing in education and funding cutting-edge programs to attract young people to careers in NASA and industry,” said Blakey. “The vitality of our nation depends on a healthy, renewable aerospace workforce.”

According to an Aviation Week Survey, 13 percent of the aerospace workforce is eligible to retire. By 2013, retirement eligibility for some job functions like R&D program managers will be around 20 percent. In addition, NASA has already laid off some of their contractor workforce and could be forced into more layoffs depending on direction by the Administration and Congress.

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